First Baptist Church of Herndon

Freedom to fail

Linda Soller | Jul 13, 2015

They say you learn from your mistakes, which means some of us should be pretty smart at this point. We live in a country that not only allows for failure, it practically encourages it. How, you ask? We are encouraged to take risks, stretch our imaginations, and strive for things which might seem impossible. When you take risks, imagine, and strive, you will likely experience some level of failure. But we are free to fail, and it keeps us moving forward.

In 1968, a scientist at 3M in the United States, Dr. Spencer Silver was attempting to develop a super-strong adhesive. Instead he accidentally created a "low-tack", reusable adhesive.  Silver promoted his creation within 3M, but failed to gain acceptance. In 1974 a colleague Art Fry came up with the idea of using the adhesive to anchor his bookmark in his hymnbook. In the 1980s, after a “give-away” approach by 3M the idea caught on, and we had “post-it-notes.” The rest is history, as they say. Dr. Silver had really failed, at least in reaching his desired goal. Mr. Fry saw a good idea, but also failed to really get it off the ground. Thankfully, companies like 3M encourage people, like Dr. Silver and Mr. Fry, to explore possibilities and not give up.

When the original colonists headed to the “new world” they more often than not ended up in the wrong place. Yet here we are, all these years later because someone said, we will make it work. There is no shame in failing, because in doing so you know you have attempted. Christians often resist sharing their faith because they fear they will fail. I suggest just the opposite. Christians should embrace the opportunity to share their faith through word and/or actions because what may appear on the surface to be a failure could be your “post-it-note”. The person who sees how you act or hears what you say may not take a dramatic turn in life in the short term, but may remember and draw on it in the future.

The reason “post-it-note” pads started out yellow was because yellow was the color of the available scrap paper when it was being invented. Use what you have, do what you can, and remember you are blessed with the freedom to fail. For your failure may be God’s success.

Have a great week! :o)  Linda